Immersive Ink

Torben

'I'll take up the tail end -- but, keep an ear out for me, mind?' He holds out a small length of rope from his bag waiting to see if any other members of the party need use of it.

Wen would offer to also lead out. Although he is not as invisible as Highbough he can move in the wilds with some skill and has no fear of walking at night. "Do not worry Dieter we'll work it out, Highbough will lead us and I will follow in his wake. He'll signal me and I'll signal you. The Hoot of the Owl means all clear follow the lead, the Song of the whip-poor-will means there is trouble."

To Highbough Wen would say in Elvish. "Choose your signals wise one and lead on."

OOC: Wen would but a good 50-100 yards between himself and main party. I figure Highbough would be some distance in front of him also which should give us some warning. Wen would do his best to move quietly and stay alert.

Here's an attempt at a marching order for the wilderness:

Highbough

Wen

Josiane - Dieter
Olaf - Armando
Gustave - Desmond
Rufus - Torben
Dorgan

Not sure what to do about Ulric... He hasn't been around in over a month.

Armando, for his part, approves of the marching order. "Onward!"

With the hoot of an ancient owl, Highbough leads the party into the wilderness. Mindful of his clumsy humanoid companions' sensory limitations, he chooses wide, grassy paths, well-lit by starlight, clear of roots, stones and other obstacles. He hears the armor-clad PCs blundering behind him, and fears that every woodland creature will hear them coming a mile away. He whispers rhymes to the trees and presses his invisible palm against their bark; the trees sigh, and the rustling sound of their branches cloaks the party's footfalls.

The night-path from the Abbey to Ket is etched in Highbough's ancient memory like a dream, and the darkness is his friend...

Very well.

The company allow Highbough a ten minute head start, and Wen a five minute head start, as they stow equipment, strap packs, shields and weapons for the march, and then set off.

It only takes ten minutes to reach the former campsite; which is now totally abandoned by the treacherous dwarf! The mules and supplies are all gone and the company now realise they will have another long and hungry march back to Ket.

With this (and other risks) in mind there is a general desire to make good time and put as much distance between themselves and the defiled abbey as possible. But alas! For all the silver blue light of the full moon, progress is made awkward and slow due to the blinded hobbits continually stumbling and tripping | overall movement rate of the company is reduced to 6", or a single 6 mile hex per turn |.

This frustration aside, it seems that Wolves are out in force this night; their howls and yelping are heard rather too frequently for comfort...

d6

...but highbough knows a thing or two about woodcraft, and leaves a series of subtle signs for young Wen to follow, and thus is the company led safely through the darkest part of the night.

As the sky begins to grey with the coming dawn the company are reaching exhaustion (especially the hobbits who have been harshly taxed by the night march).

What do you wish next?

Dorgan will pass the word up the line that as soon as light allows, we should scout out a defensible position and camp.

For his part, the dwarf will be on the lookout for anything that looks like food or water.

As dawn brightens, the invisibility glamour unravels from Highbough's cloak. The ancient Elf is visibly exhausted, his face weary and gaunt. He leans on Wen for a moment to catch his breath, and whispers a few words in the younger Elf's ears: "The night fades; my vigour wanes. Younger feet must find the path."

Highbough falls back to the middle of the marching order, next to the wizard Ulric. The unlikely pair of magi trudge in grim silence toward Ket. When the party stops to rest, Highbough passes out immediately.

Wen seems to get a second wind near dawn, and dusk for that matter. He would guide Highbough weary frame back to the main group and smile as Dorgan suggests find a good place to camp. "Come Master Dwarf lets see what we can find."

Wen would set back out to find a source of water if possible and hopefully a sheltered spot to rest in. Still cautious for signs of danger, he would do his best to lead the party to a safe camp.

After a full day of dungeoneering followed by a long night march, the company are exhausted.

Dorgan stoically makes the additional effort to find a secure camp site, but truth be told he is so weary that the first likely place he comes upon looks as good as any, and he and the others immediately tumble down in a dusty clatter and more or less immediately (once it is apparent that Wen will have the first watch) fall asleep...

Only the young Elf is awake long enough to see the glorious sunrise; and it is a breathtaking vision! Amber and ivory light bleeds gradually through every hue of blue as night turns to dawn and then day proper. Wen is suitably impressed...

...while the others sleep Wen wanders about the haphazard camp site and locates a babbling brook that runs downhill from the hills toward the plains below. There won't be any problem re-filling waterskins; it is food that is in short supply.